Duplex capping-machine.



G. KIRKEGAARD.

I DUPLEX GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, mos.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

{ 1 mm wtoz G. KIRKEGAARD.

DUPLEX GAPPING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 25, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 @MQlaG G. KIRKEGAARD.

DUPLEX CAYPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1908.

948,688.. Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

gag-in @Wmmo UNITED STATLFb PATENT @FFIQE.

GEORG KIRKEGAARD, OF NEW YORK, N.- Y., ASSIGNOR TO IMPERIAL STOPPERCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DUPLEX CAPPING-MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG KIRKEGAARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DuplexCapping-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to bottle capping machines, particularly of thatclass adapted for use with sheet metal caps having a depending orflanged edge and a cork or other lining, and which are engaged upon thebottle by drawing or compressing the metal edge.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine which issubstantially automatic in all its operations, and which caps thebottles with very great rapidity, the caps being supplied to a hopper,and the bottles bein ap lied on a movable table which transfers t em tothe position where they are capped. Means are provided by which thebottle caps are properly fed into position for use by the mechanism,regardless of the indiscriminate way in which they are initiallydeposited in the supply hopper. As will later appear, I accomplish thisresult by allowing the caps to fall indiscriminately upon a surface fromwhich those which fall upside down or improperly are diverted into aseparate channel from those which are fed to the cap-applying mechanism.

I have illustrated the bottles adapted to be carried into a relation tobe capped two at a time, but it is evident that the mechanism may bearranged to cap single bottles or any other number at each operation.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationas hereinafter set forth and claimed.

I11 the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bottlecapping machine embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is apartial front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail side view ofcertain of the parts; Fig. 4 is a top view of the support or table forthe bottles, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 42-1) of Fig. 1.Fig. (5 is a detail side view of part of the feed mechanism. Fig. 7 is asimilar Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 435,102.

view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview of the mechanism for intermittently rotating the bottles.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are designated by thesame reference sign, 1 indicates a frame or standard which isconveniently made in the form of a vertical hollow column having anenlarged base 2 by which it is rigidly supported.

3 designates a reciprocating rod guided to have a vertical movement inthe standard 1 and operated by a crank i driven from the pulley 5through any suitable or desired clutch within the base 2.

7 designates a treadle by which the clutch is engaged to operate thecrank 4 from the pulley 5.

The reciprocating rod 3 carries acrosshead 8 which projects laterallythrough a slot 9 in the standard 1.

10 denotes a spring inclosed within the standard 1 beneath thecross-head 8 and abutting against a diaphragm 11, so as to normallyimpel said cross-head upward. This cross-head carries the cap-applyingdies or mechanisms, broadly designated 12 in the drawings, and which aredepressed by such cross-head to compress or apply the caps to thebottles.

13 designates a table loosely sleeved upon a portion of the standard 1,so as to be revoluble'thereabout. This table has a circular series ofcavities 14 in which bottles 15 may be received. The arrangement anddisposition of these cavities are such that two bottles within thesecavities may always be moved into a position beneath the cap-applyingheads 12 so as to be simultaneously acted upon thereby.

I have illustrated a means for automatically actuating the table 13 inthe operation of the machine, so that the bottles are successivelypresented in their cap-applying relation.

16 designates a bevel gear integral with the table 13, and 17 designatesanother bevel gear meshing with the gear 16 and fixed on a shaft 18journaled within the standard 1. The reciprocating rod 3 is bifurcatedor slotted at its portion 19 adjacent to the shaft 18, so as to embraceor inclose said shaft and permit of the independent verticalreciprocation of said rod. Loosely sleeved on the shaft 18 is a pinion20 having an integral disk 22 which in turn carries a laterallyprojecting pin 25. Also loosely sleeved on the shaft 18 is a mutilateddisk 21 having a cut out portion or sector opposite the pin 25 and inwhich said pin has a certain amount of play or angular movement. 27 is aratchet wheel fixed to the shaft 18 and engaged by a pawl 26 pivoted tothe side face of the disk 24. The arrangement is such that the bevelgear 17 is rotated through a predetermined angular distance at eachupward movement of the rod 3, but, 011 the return or downward movementof the rod 3, the pawl 26 slides backward over the ratchet wheel 27 sothat the bevel gear 17 is not driven. The table 13-is rotated with thebevel gear 17, being directly geared thereto, so that the bottles aremoved through a predetermined angular distance at each upward movementof the rod 3. As will later appear this distance is just sufficient toposition two new or uncapped bottles in the path of the capapplyingheads. The arrangement of the disks E22 and 21 is such that there is aconsiderable degree of lost motion in the movement of the table underthe action of the driving pinion 20. It is not practical to have thetable commence its movement of rotation at the very beginning of thereturn stroke of the cap-applying head; this movement should not beginuntil the cap-applying heads are entirely free from the bottles. This isprovided for by the two disks '22 and 2-1 which becomes engaged inpositively driving relation only after half a rotation or more of lostmotion. Accordingly the table does not commence to turn until thereciprocating rod 3 has ascended for a considerable distance in itsupward movement.

The cap-applying heads 12 may be of the usual or any desiredconstruction. Each has a cavity 30 within which a bottle cap is adaptedto be received and held preliminary to the descent of the cap-applyinghead upon the bottle to be capped.

I provide means for automatically feeding caps from a hopper into aposition below the cap-applying heads and projecting them up ward fromthis postion into the heads. where they are grasped and carried downwardonto the bottles to be capped.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, 31 designates a U-shaped bail orsliding frame guided to have a vertical movement parallel to thereciprocating rod 3. 32 designate springs by which this bail or frame isnormally impelled upward. On its upper surface this bail carries aprojection 33 in the path of a block 34 swiveled on a stud 31' at theupper end of the reciprocating rod 3. The block 34 has a sector-shapedpart 35 which directly overlies the projection 33 under certaincircumstances. 36 designates a portion of the block 34 which is adaptedto be engaged by a cam 37 forming a fixed part of the frame of themachine. The block 31 is normally impelled angularly by a spring 38which keeps the arm 36 pressed against the cam surface 37. By this meansthe block 3 is displaced through part of a revolution whenever thereciprocating rod 3 descends, and makes a corresponding return movementduring the ascent of the rod 3. Under these circumstances the projection33 and bail 31 are depressed by the sector 35 during a portion of eachdownward movement of the reciprocating rod 3, but, after this movementis partly completed, the sector 35 passes 01f of the projection 33 byvirtue of its angular movement, whereupon the bail 31 rises abruptlyunder the impulse of its springs 32. Depending from the cap-applyingheads 12 there is another bail 10 which has a sliding connection 4:1with the pins 12 of the capapplying heads, so as to be capable of beingdisplaced upwardly in the direction of the axes of the cap-applyingheads. This bail has a pair of rigid )lugs 11 which are adapted to enterthe cavities 30 of the cap-applying heads when properly positioned withrespect thereto. These plugs -11 are of a size adapted to fit inside ofand support a bottle cap, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. 15 designatesa yoke movably supported 011 the bail, 40 being depressible thereon. Iprovide pins 46 which rigidly project from the yoke and loosely enterholes 17 of the bail 10. 4:8 designates a spring by which the yoke isnormally pressed upward into the position shown in Fig. :2. At pointsalong the length of the side members of the bail to there are swiveledeyes 19 which loosely receive the extremities of arms 50 pivoted to thebail 31 on the axes 52. The arms 50 are joined to the swiveled eyes 19of the part- 40 by tensile springs 49* which are also capable of actingas compression springs when sufficiently compressed or retracted. 53designate pins rigidly projecting from the frame of the machine in thepath of the arms 50 (see particularly Fig. 1.) The arrangement is suchthat, when the bail 31 descends, the arms .30 are caused to fulcrumabout the pins 53, causing the bail 40 to be swung to the right in Fig.1, until the plugs 41 are be neath the cavities 30 of the cap-applyingheads. At this point the outwardly swinging movement of the bail 40 isarrested by the stops 5-1, and any further descent of the bail 31 canonly take place by an upward movement of the bail 40. The bail -10 is,however, free to make such an upward movement on account of its slottedconnections 11 with the cap-applying heads, and the plugs 44: areaccordingly impelled upward into the cavities 30. As will later appear.these plugs carry bottle caps at this time. which are accordinglyproperly 1)O. itit)110d within the cavities of the cap-applying heads.The

fact has been referred to that the bail 31 only pal-takes of part of thedownward movement of the reciprocating rod 3. Before the downwardmovement of the latter is completed, the projection 33 is disengagedfrom the sector 35 and the bail 31 rises under the influence of itsimpelling springs 32. The upward movement of the bail 31 is accompaniedby a reverse movement of the bail 40 in all respects, that is to say,the bail 10 first descends and subsequently swings to the left inFig. 1. This movement is im pelled by the tensile springs 49* from thearms 50, the latter being drawn upward by the springs 32. Accordinglythis bail is out of the way of the bottles by the time the capapplyingheads have descended thereon to compress or apply the caps.

The means which I have provided for feeding the caps automatically ontothe plugs 4-1 preliminary to the above described operation comprises ahopper (50 having a gate (31 at its lower portion, through which thecaps continuously drop. 62 designates a. belt of felt or. similarflexible material with a friction surface which is guided over a pair ofpulleys (33 and 6 1. This belt may be caused to have an intermittentmovement in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 in any suitable way,for example, by means of a cord (35 passing over a portion of the pulleyG4 and connected to the upper end of the reciprocating rod 3. It will benoted that the belt structure particularly adapts itself to theseparation of properly disposed from improperly disposed caps, in thatthere is a direct rectilinear retraction of the improperly disposed capsaway from the mouth of the chute, which avoids the grinding and churningaction of wheel-like devices commonly employed heretofore for thispurpose. Further, the belt being of felt, and hence non-metallic, cannotscratch the decorationson the faces of the caps. (36 denotes a screenhaving a pair of openings (37 of such a shape that they will permit thepassage of a cap therethrough in inverted relation, but not with theprongs or flange downward.' Each of these openings communicates with aseparate chute 68. These chutes respectively lead into proximity to theplugs 4.4 directly behind the yoke 45 when the bail 10 is in its normalposition of rest, as shown in Fig. 1. Any bottle caps which enter thesechutes 68 accordingly fall by gravity until they are arrested by thedetent 70,-0r by contact with the yoke 45 which is cut away at twoportions opposite the chutes 68 so as to properly receive the caps. Whenthe caps are brought to rest in this way they settle upon the plugs 44from which they are eventually transferred to the cap-applying heads inthe manner which has already been described.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A supply of caps beingfurnished to the hopper (30, it is evident that they will fall ingreater or less numbers through the gate ()1 onto the inclined belt (32.Some of the caps will fall with their flanged side downward and somewill fall with their flanged side upward. Those which fall with theflanged side downward engage the belt 62 with a considerable degree offriction on account of their prongs or rough edges, but those which fallwith their smooth top surface downward are not frictioinilly engaged bythe belt to any extent. Accordingly the latter caps slide about upon thebelt in proximity to the screen 66 until they eventually enter theopenings 67 and pass downward through the chute 68. On the other hand,the caps which fall with their prongs or flanged side downward arecarried upward by the belt at each movement thereof in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 1, so that they are carried over the pulley 64 andfall into a receiving chute 69 which leads to any desired receptacle.These ejected caps may be resupplied to the hopper (it) from time totime. The caps which pass downward through the chutes 68 are notpermitted to issue freely at the lower ends, on account of the detent 70provided for each chute, which is depressed by the bail 40 when thelatter is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly caps can beapplied to the plugs 44 when the bail 40 is in the position shown inFig. 1, but, during the time that these caps are transferred to thecap-applying heads, the lower ends of the chutes 68 are barred by thedetents 70. These caps are swung forwardly and upward into thecap-applying heads during the descent of the reripr0- eating rod 3 inthe manner already described. The bail 10 also makes its return movementout of the way of the bottles dnrmovable table for receiving thebottles, and

means for actuating said table to present the bottles in operativerelation to said head exclusively during the latter part of the upwardmovement or reciprocation thereof.

2. In a bottle capping machine, a reciprocating cap-applying head, atable adapted to receive a plurality of bottles and actuatable topresent said bottles successively in the path of said head, and meansacting exclusively during the latter part of the upward movement of saidhead for so actuating said table.

In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, a reciprocating rodconnected thereto and having a rack section, a pinion meshing with saidrack section, a disk or member having a lost motion connection with saidpinion, another disk or member adapted to be actuated by angularmovements of said first named disk or member in one direction only, anda table for receiving bottles geared to said second disk or member.

4. In a bottle capping machine, a reciprocating cap-applying head, andmeans movable into and out of said head during the downward movementthereof for feeding caps thereto.

In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, a reciprocating rodconnect-ed thereto, and means actuated by said reciprocating rod to moveinto and out of said cap-applying head during the downward movementthereof, for feeding caps thereto.

6. In a bottle capping machine, a cap applying head and means beneathsaid head having a late "all, an upward, a downward, and another lateralmovement during each downward reciprocation of said head for feedingcaps thereto.

7. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, a reciprocating rodconnected to said head, and means actuated by said rod for movinglaterally under and up into the head to feed a cap thereto during eachdownward movement thereof.

8. In a bottle capping machine, a cap applying head, means having aslotted connection with the head and depending heneath the same toreceive a bottle cap, and means for moving said cap receiving meanslaterally and upwardly into said head.

t). In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means securedthereto and depending therefrom and adapted to receive a bottle cap, arod for reciprocating the head, and connections between said rod andsaid means for moving the latter laterally and -upwardly to position acap in said head.

10. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means dependingfrom said head to receive a bottle cap, a reciprocating rod connected tosaid head, and connections from said rod to said means for moving thelatter laterally, upward, downward, and again laterally during eachdownward movement of the head.

11. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means for insertingcaps therein, a chute for delivering caps to said means, a hopper ormagazine for delivering caps to said chute, and means movable recceasestilinearly for diverting from said chute caps which fall from the hopperin improper relation.

12. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means for insertingcaps therein, a chute for delivering caps to said means, a hopper ormagazine for delivering caps to said chute, and movable means having afriction surface for diverting from said chute caps which fall from saidhopper in inverted or improper relation.

13. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means forinsert-ing caps therein, a chute for delivering caps to said means, ahopper or magazine for delivering caps to said chute, and a belt havinga friction surface for diverting from said chute the caps which fallfrom the hopper in inverted or improper relation.

1 In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, means for insertingcaps therein, a chute for delivering caps to said means, a hopper ormagazine for delivering caps to said chute, and an intermittentlymovable belt havin a friction surface for diverting from sai chute thecaps which fall from the hopper in inverted or improper relation.

15. In a bottle capping machine, a reciprocating head, means for feedingcaps thereto, a chute for delivering caps to said means, a screen havinga gate or opening at the entrance to said chute and adapted to permitthe entrance of a cap only in inverted relation, means having a frictionsurface and movable in an inclined direction away from said screen, anda hopper or magazine for supplying caps to said friction surface.

16. In a bottle capping machine, a capapplying head, a reciprocating rodconnected thereto and having a block swiveled to its upper end, a camfor angularly displacing said block during the downward movement of saidhead, means for receiving caps and supplying them to said head, andconnections from said block to said means for moving the same into andaway from its capapplying relation during each downward movement of thehead.

17. In a bottle capping machine, a cap applying head, means forinserting caps therein, a chute for delivering caps to the said means, ahopper or magazine for delivering caps to said chute, and non-metallicmeans for diverting from said chute caps which fall from the hopper inimproper relation.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORG KIRKEGAARD.

lVitnesses \VALno M. CHAPIN, JAMES DAN'roNIo.

